KitKat

With the Nexus 5 / KitKat release nearly upon it, it's become time again to take a look at what we'll likely be seeing from Google as early as tomorrow. With Google's team-up with Nestle for the release of the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system upgrade - alongside several tips from independent sources - it only makes sense for Google to make a show of their release of "treats" tomorrow. The question then is - will anyone be invited, or will it be an online event only?

While you'll not be seeing one whole heck of a lot of new details appearing on the operating system known as Android 4.4 KitKat in the following teaser trailer, you will find entertainment in abundance. Google and Nestle appear to be rolling out one - if not a whole series - of video advertisements for the public for their cross-branding effort in Android 4.4 KitKat. This video shows a couple of Androids working some magic with the chocolate candy bar.

Today several photos have appeared from a shipping facility somewhere in the world with the Google Nexus 5 ready to hit stores sooner than later. This device is appearing with a black front, a black back, and a blue box not unlike that of the recent release of the 2013 edition of the Nexus 7. In its most basic aesthetic style, that is - there's a whole world of difference on the inside of this phone.

This morning the LG-made Nexus 5 appears to be showing up in-stock (or nearly in-stock) across the world. One of the several stock images appearing this morning comes from Carphone Warehouse, a carrier inside the UK that's generally got leaks such as this just as often as the rest of the leaks universe. Another leak this morning comes from a Dutch website that's contacted a local retailer and found - via pre-order information - that their stock of Nexus 5 devices will be arriving as soon as Wednesday - making way for a Halloween or November 1st launch.

The Nexus 5 will come in a two-tone, black-and-white version, leaked @evleaks earlier today, and something is happening on Nov. 1. What that something is is anybody's guess, but rumor has it it is the official Nexus 5 announcement date set by Google and LG. Check out the leaked photo and specs after the jump.

Google has recently closed on another acquisition. This latest was for a company by the name of FlexyCore and according to details coming from the French language L'Expansion, this was a €16.9 million ($23.1 million) deal. FlexyCore is a five year old company that was fairly well known for an app called DroidBooster.

We have seen Nexus 5 leaks coming out of countries around the world. Just in recent days there was a sighting in France and Russia and as of today it looks like Canada. One difference with this latest leak though, instead of looking at in-the-wild style images, we are seeing what appears to be the press renders. Specifically, the press renders for Canadian mobile carrier Telus.

It's time to have a peek at Android 4.4 KitKat in its dualing near-complete edition for the masses on a Nexus 7 tablet from 2013. This version of Android is shown with a couple of clues as to its origins, the first being a glimpse of the software's single Easter Egg, one similar to each previous version of Android in its access through a hidden tap in a Settings menu deep within the device. Here you'll find the codename "Android KeyLimePie" sitting below a rather obviously referenced Nesle logo - saying Android instead of the candy company's original title.

There's little doubt that Google will be releasing additional information about Android 4.4 KitKat soon, and if rumor holds this week, they'll be doing so with smartwatch functionality in tow. The watch is on the rise - with rumors of an Apple iWatch persisting through the past several months, the Samsung Galaxy Gear appearing in stores this month, and Sony already having released their second Smartwatch product this year. What we're seeing this week is the second anonymous suggestion that Google will be releasing its own hardware along with software support for a new wearable this month.

It would seem that the LG-made Nexus 5 is ready to launch in several European countries as it's appeared in Russia (today) as well as France and Italy over the past several days. What we're seeing today is a back view as well as a right-side view and a couple of front views of this soon-to-be-revealed machine, also known as one of the most leaked smartphones of the year, easily. Here we're finding a slightly modified smartphone lockscreen as well.

If you saw the "always listening" feature on the Moto X this summer and wondered if it would be coming to all Android devices soon, you may be in luck: a leaked build of the next version of Android, 4.4 KitKat, has a clue. This version of the software will likely be released within the next couple of weeks - or as soon as the 15th of this month - and inside is found a reference to homepage-based "ok Google Now" abilities.

This morning a lovely piece of video has surfaced showing the LG-made Nexus 5 from all angles, complete with an early version of KitKat called Key Lime Pie. This device appears to be working with KitKat, but as you'll find in the menu pull-down the user attains right off the bat, he'll be heading down to the version of the software released to Google's developers before the name change. You'll also find this device's software moving swiftly - Buttery smoothness in full effect.